Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 3, 1994 TAG: 9408030045
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M. J. Dougherty
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
Problems included a windblown camera, audio difficulties and scheduling overruns.
Television had come to track.
About 40 people were involved in the live broadcast of the WDBJ TV-7 200. Thousands of feet of extra cable had been stretched around and above the track. And seven cameras were placed strategically around the track - from the speed shot on the front stretch to specially built scaffolding in turns 1 and 3.
The station had a satellite truck, an production truck, an engineering truck, two microwave trucks and a mobile microwave unit - a golf cart.
"This was a challenge because of the geography," said Jim Shaver, WDBJ's vice president for news and programming. "Look how far it is to that camera [turn 3] and that camera [turn 1] and the pits. We've done a live football game before but that was in a [confined space].
"Also, with racing there are no natural breaks. So we have to make judgments as to when to break for commercials."
The equipment was easy to deal with. When weather turned nearly nasty late in the afternoon as a storm passed through the area, a gust of wind knocked over a camera on a tripod and broke it. But the station had plenty of backup equipment. The station engineers also were able to work out the prerace sound problems long before broadcast time.
Staying to schedule was something out of the station's hands, however. The storm that knocked over the camera later brought a 30-minute downpour at the scheduled end of practice. To get things started at the normal 8 p.m. race time, the Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks had to start by points - a common occurrence when weather interrupts the racing, TV or no TV.
However, once the television coverage started, the racing ran to its own schedule. The first 100-lap Late Model race had four cautions for 22 laps, not an unusual amount. Then the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race had four cautions and one red flag, slowing things down just a bit.
Finally, the second Late Model race was slowed by 10 cautions for 42 laps. The last yellow caused a lot of groans because it sent the race past midnight. The race coverage began at 9 p.m. and was scheduled for 21/2 hours. Most people estimated the TV racing would last three hours at the most. So when it ended up going about 3:10 - until 12:10 a.m. Sunday - many VCRs missed the end of the race as Michael Ritch passed first-race winner Johnny Rumley for the win.
About the only concession to television as far as scheduling came when a longer-than-expected Pure Stock race (35 minutes) pushed the Mini Stocks to after the television coverage. The Minis had been scheduled to take the track before 9 p.m.
TV ATTENTION: Not everybody at Franklin County Speedway in Callaway was looking at the races on the track.
At least two televisions sets were spotted tuned in to the coverage from NRVS. One was in the infield pits, the other in the administration building.
FACES NEW AND OLD: Brian Holm came the farthest for the race - from Hilton, N.Y., outside of Rochester. But the television coverage had nothing to do with his decision to make the 12-hour drive to the speedway.
"I came down to test drive a car," Holm said. "I called Jerry Cook [NASCAR's competition administrator] because he is from the same part of New York as I am. He told me about the New River Valley Speedway and that they had twin 100s coming up."
Holm said there was no place in the Northeast to run his Chevrolet, a "Southern" late model stock car. He built the car with an eye on the post-season big money races at places such as Martinsville Speedway and North Wilksboro (N.C.) Speedway.
Holm placed 10th in the second race.
(FYI: A "Northern" Late Model car is a cross between a Late Model and a Modified with a muffler.)
Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas was back. He drove the Pontiac driven some by Randy Ratliff early in the year and finished third in the second race.
"They've had lots of trouble and we've had lots of trouble,'' Thomas said. ``So we thought we would get our heads together.''
Thomas expects to be back in his own Buick this week or next. He is rebuilding the car with a new frame and roll cage. ``We hope that was the problem,'' Thomas said.
Roy Hendrick, son of the late Ray Hendrick, had his version of the Flying 11s at the track. The Richmond driver cracked the top five in the nightcap.
Both the Lacks brothers, Donnie and Darryl, entered and drew the first two numbers for qualifying. They had been competing at South Boston Speedway most of this season. Last year, the brothers alternated races at NRVS.
The best finishes for the brothers - Darryl was 16th in the opener while Donnie was 13th in the nightcap.
GLAD TO SEE YOU: Former track promotor - and sometime race driver - Clay Campbell was glad to see Rumley arrive.
For despite working at the track for 1 1/2 years and driving in the Limited division at Lonesome Pine International Raceway in Coeburn, Campbell was reluctant to take Rumley's car out on the track for a qualifying run.
``The way he has the car set up it's difficult for me to drive,'' Campbell said. ``I can't reach the pedals and I can't see out.''
Rumley has the seat in the Chevy Camaro set up to his liking. He is more than 6 feet tall and likes to lie back when he's driving. Campbell is several inches shorter and likes to sit up nearly straight. Hence the problem for the relief driver.
THIS WEEK AT THE TRACKS: It's a two-race weekend at NRVS.
Saturday is the Virginia's 13 WSET 300. The feature is a 200-lap Late Model race. Also on the schedule are a 35-lapper for the Limited Sportsman cars and 25-lappers for the Pure Stocks and Modified Minis.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Practice starts at 4. Qualifying is at 6:15. And the green flag drops at 8.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under.
Sunday, the Enduro Cars make their second appearance at NRVS.
The "no caution" race runs for 100 laps or two hours, whichever comes first.
Also, the Pure Stocks will run a 50-lap race and the Minis a 25-lapper. Both races will carry track points for the season championship.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Practice begins at noon. The first race is at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults - or $5 with a ticket stub from Saturday - and $1 for children 12-or-under.
M.J. Dougherty covers community sports and racing for the New River Valley bureau.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB